For the protection of patients, visitors and colleagues, all employees are asked to get their annual flu vaccinations by Oct. 14. The vaccinations are free and available to all medical staff members, employees and volunteers.

The division of Thoracic Surgery at Cedars-Sinai continues to grow and flourish. It is in the process of recruiting two more faculty surgeons, ideally one of whom will serve as surgical director of a new specialized lung transplant program.

Cedars-Sinai Precision Health made its debut this month, offering a compelling preview of a new world of medicine in which advanced data on an individual's genes, proteins and even digestive processes would drive personalized healthcare for patients.

Cedars-Sinai resident neurosurgeon Lindsey Ross, MD, a member of the Neurological Surgery Residency Program, has won a coveted position as a 2016-17 White House Fellow. Ross will spend the next year in Washington working in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and participating in roundtable discussions with top government leaders, including President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

For the eighth consecutive year, Cedars-Sinai has earned the highest ranking from the federal government for patients surviving 30 days after hospitalization based on three common conditions: pneumonia, heart failure and acute myocardial infarction.

The Circle of Friends program honored 135 people in August. Circle of Friends allows grateful patients to make a donation in honor of the physicians, nurses, caregivers and others who have made a difference during their time at Cedars-Sinai.